Astak Mentor eBook readers with WiFi and Touchscreen (read-only)

[derrell]

Originally Posted by kacir

Make an extremely sturdy unit as an option. You can have the same screen, PCB, and other parts for the "pretty" unit and "sturdy & ugly" one. Something like super rugerized military type PDA I saw the other day. Massive UGLY rubber coated ribbed aluminum cast
Something like this:
http://www.industcomputing.com/PDFs/...ilitaryPDA.pdf
http://www.amrel.com/federal_militar...ugged_pda.html
http://www.ruggedized-solutions.com/ruggadized_pda.php
(One can dream. Right?)

I would heartily second this. When something costs $300.00 and up, it would be wonderful if when dropped on concrete it just accumulated a few more love scuffs and kept on working. Screw pretty give me rugged every time. Thats just me though and I realize the cost to produce truly rugged electronics is prohibitive. It could have some basic rubberized armor over a tough plastic or aluminum shell though.

[pkovak]

I wanted to ask, if you are distributing the eReader only in America+Australia, how much you can speak to the developement? And second question, if you add a software feature in your eReader, will it be even in eReader bought from shop in, say, Europe?

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by Robertb

Dear Pkovak and Community:

On January 2, I head to Storage Visions and then the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There we will be meeting with our own factories and eBook Reader factories from around the world. The key question on everyone's agenda is to find WHAT to add to the next generation or two of eBook Readers that we will develope. I already know there is a lot of interest in the Epson Controller (coming) amd the 9.7 inch size (sooner or later). This forum has some of the finest minds in the world regartding eBook Readers... yet most of you have jobs that are in entirely different fields.

I would like to invite you to tell me what you wish for both short term and long term. This can be as simple as "an LED light that is on a gooseneck and is retractible into the case" or a "solar charger" or plastic display or color screen (not yet possible in E-Ink but worth discussing) and anything else including snowflake finish). I cannot guarantee results but I can get you factual answers.

This THREAD needs to ramp up again. I know it is the holidays; but I invite you to put your thinking cap on and be as bold or far out as you want to be. Get some factual answers; or provide some answers to Astak!


Robert B

Robert B...

Thanks for asking us!

As you know, the very top of my list is out of your hands -- drastically higher pixel density and contrast. That's a problem for the eInk screen makers. 300 to 600 pixels per inch (as compared to the ~180 of current units) would be FABULOUS! Especially with further improvements in contrast.

Among the things you could make a difference to:

1. Massively improved physical ergonomics! Play with the REB-1100/EBW-1150 device that you got a while back. Meditate on the fit in your hands, the support for left/right/top/bottom holding, the ability to load any TrueType font, etc. Then get out there and do EVEN BETTER!!
2. Good support for large libraries of eBooks. You've seen how the Sony readers since the 505 allow one level of hierarchy in their lists. A-C, D-E, etc., like an old fashioned paper address book. Go for multiple levels. A simple branching hierarchy (select from choice for first letter of authors name; now select from ranges for second letter, etc.) should allow access to any of thousands of books with only a few user interactions. And anyone who's used a Rolodex (or a dictionary or a phone book) understands how to use this kind of interface.
3. Better software support. There're a bunch of different items here:
   • On the device itself you should support as many eBook formats as possible, at least in their non-DRM forms. ePub, microsoft .lit, Sony LRF, mobipocket, eReader, and on and on. I don't care (much) which DRM form you support, as I refuse to purchase any eBook with DRM unless I can instantly remove the DRM.
   • On the user's host computer, you should support some kind of software that acts as librarian, file manager, converter, etc. Talk to Kovid Goyal about Calibre -- it's a great possibility, needing only some documentation to make it friendly enough to give to my Mom.
   • Don't forget to support Mac and Linux as well as windows. Mac users, in particular, have proven more willing (per capita) to spend money on hardware and software than are PC users. They also average higher disposable income. A market you should WANT to tap.
   • In addition to the hierarchical lists I suggested above, how about folder support? I recognize that users like my Mom wouldn't be likely to use this, but all the computer-geeks in your marketplace will scream at you if the feature is missing. If necessary, it could be turned off by default.
   • Have a straight-forward, DOCUMENTED index file format so that programs like Calibre can pre-produce it when moving books around. If the index file included support for custom menus, the community gurus could experiment with a variety of options for supporting large libraries. That would make things like folder support and large library support into aftermarket add-ons that would not require work from you and your suppliers. (Imagine for a moment that a program like Calibre scans the contents of the unit while connected via USB, and produces an xml file representing a custom menu tree for navigating folders, or book lists, or author lists, or whatever. You'd only need to document the format and where the file should go, and build the hooks to display things into the firmware. All the rest would be effectively crowd-sourced!)
   • Support for installing my own fonts on the device, two different ways -- first, as replacements for the default fonts; second as additional fonts.
   • Decent hyphenation support. At least 'steal' the TeX hyphenation algorithm (it's open-source). Feel free to do better. Reasonable hyphenation makes auto-layout of text look much better.
   • True italics! That is, use an italic member of the font family rather than synthesizing 'italic' by slanting a non-italic font.
   • Full Unicode support for folks outside the western european languages. The Russian/CJK/etc. users will thank you.
4. User-replaceable battery. I don't want to replace the battery frequently; the several week battery life of my PRS-500 is cool. But I also don't want to have to void the warranty to put in a new battery when the current one will no longer hold charge.
5. Don't make me wait a long time for books to load! If you support a format like LRF that requires pre-pagination, document the pagination algorithm so that other software folks can build support for any OS that you leave out.

Some other posters suggested clever ideas like standardized attachment points for whatever case a user cares to build. That's a GREAT idea.

Xenophon

[kacir]

Originally Posted by derrell

Thats just me though and I realize the cost to produce truly rugged electronics is prohibitive. It could have some basic rubberized armor over a tough plastic or aluminum shell though.

It does not need to pas any military tests. We would not be able to pay for such a unit.
It does not need to by made from a magnesium or lithium cast machined on CNC milling machine ...
Today there are quite a few casings made from extruded aluminum. Like [relatively] cheap cases for external harddisks ...
Or a good fiberglass laminate, or a glass reinforced plastics ...

[kacir]

Hi Robertb

Have you heard about the Open Pandora project? http://openpandora.org/

Look what can be done when you listen to the community and design a device exactly to their specifications.

Pandora folks have designed a portable game console to the exact specifications of the community. The device was created with the maximum emphasis on the openness. There are already dozens of emulators and hundreds of games and utilities ported for this platform.
Then they commissioned production of several thousand units. The first batch sold out (in pre-order) in a few hours and eager buyers have crashed the server.
Open Pandora folks did not start from zero. Previously they were centered around GP2X console (no longer in production) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GP2X

[FizzyWater]

On the user's host computer, you should support some kind of software that acts as librarian, file manager, converter, etc. Talk to Kovid Goyal about Calibre -- it's a great possibility, needing only some documentation to make it friendly enough to give to my Mom.

Your Mom? Really? Mom good at computers?

I really like Calibre, but there's still a lot that needs to be done to it before it's "average-Mom" ready. There still are too many functions (for a typical Windows user, anyway) that can only be fully realized using command line...uh...commands. (There has to be a better way to say that).

Wonder if anyone would be willing to write a tutorial for "How to use command line instructions in Calibre"?

[pkovak]

RobertB, I think there are lots of good ideas. What I would love to hear, and I think I am not alone, is what of it we can realisticaly expect to be added in this new Mentor device? What price can we expect? It would be great to know that developers concider some of our ideas to be so good they are going to do it. What of it you concider to be realistic in this generation, next generation and what you think is impossible for some reason due to hardware limits, copyright issues or simply because company A won't allow to add it because company B already agreed.

[Darqref]

Hi Robert

I like lots of the suggestions listed above, but here's the ones that most push my buttons.

Use a high quality case - make it feel solid, make sure it protects against twisting and wracking of screen. Pay attention to the design of the screen mounting, so that it is tolerant of moderate error of assembly. I think the current designs of screen mounts may be touchy about exactly how the screen is mounted, which would explain a lot of complaints about "mysteriously breaking screens".

Use a Rotationally equal case (like ebookwise or it's previous Rocket versions)- Be able to rotate display 180 degrees in either direction. This lets you change button placement to satisfy either hand.

Strongly consider a flexible screen, not to make the size of the device variable, but to make the device more robust. If you can make the screen tolerant of moderate impact and scraping, then the device will have many fewer breaking problems. I like a previous poster's suggestion of mounting threads to the case so that the device could be attached to any cover. Same idea as the threads on cameras that allow installing any tripod. (holes on the corners would work but are less elegant.)

Like others have said, put some work into the file system. It should be easy to move books around to different folders, and it should be easy to arrange book hierarchy so that you can find different categories or styles or authors or whatever criteria you want. I'm not fond of PDF, but if you support that format, truly support all it's features.

If you make it easy for users to access the OS and load new/additional software, the community will provide improvements. If you can make it possible to personalize the button functions, you will attract many hackers and modifiers. I don't like the current Gen3 button that has the menu button in the middle of the 4-way page forward/back/up/down rocker. If I could disable it's function during normal reading, I would. I really liked my Rocket, which had page up and down buttons clearly separated from any other functions - in fact, all other functions used the touchscreen.

I would trade some moderate weight increase for large increases in battery life. In fact, a moderate bulge can make the device easier to hold. Both the Kindle and the Rocket/Ebookwise series have asymmetrical shapes, and they are easy to hold. At the very least, try to allow for 2 or 4 of the current batteries to be installed in the case, but think about differently shaped batteries. And try to make the battery charging system not interfere with operation. The Cybook currently does not allow reading while the battery charges, but my old Rocket did.

I'm not really concerned with wireless connectivity, but if you have it, USE IT. Make the OS recognize wireless keyboards, which makes library organization much easier.

[pkovak]

RobertB, I think there are lots of good ideas. What I would love to hear, and I think I am not alone, is what of it we can realisticaly expect to be incorporated in this new Mentor device? What price can we expect? It would be great to know that developers concider some of our ideas to be so good they are going to do it. What of it you concider to be realistic in this generation, generation after this one and what you think is impossible for some reason due to hardware limits, copyright issues or simply because company A won't allow to add it because company B already agreed.

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

Your Mom? Really? Mom good at computers?

I really like Calibre, but there's still a lot that needs to be done to it before it's "average-Mom" ready. There still are too many functions (for a typical Windows user, anyway) that can only be fully realized using command line...uh...commands. (There has to be a better way to say that).

Wonder if anyone would be willing to write a tutorial for "How to use command line instructions in Calibre"?

I certainly wouldn't expect her to use the command line tools from Calibre. Never, ever, no way, uh uh. But most of the point-n-clicky stuff would be well within her grasp -- if there was a manual that she could read to get started.

She's not super-good at computers. But she's been a Mac user since about 1990, so she's got many basics down pretty well.

Xenophon

P.S. Please note that I'm not complaining about lack of a manual. I fully understand that it's open-source, community effort stuff. B*tching about a manual should properly be met with the response "so write one!" And I don't have time: 3 papers and a book to write in the next way-too-short time period.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

-- if there was a manual that she could read to get started.

you know, I was considering pitching in and writing {enhancing} one. But, Kovid adds features so fast there is no way I could keep up.

BOb

[moz]

Originally Posted by derrell

I realize the cost to produce truly rugged electronics is prohibitive. It could have some basic rubberized armor over a tough plastic or aluminum shell though.

There's a company called "Camera Armor" that makes something like this for DSLRs. Perhaps something along those lines. What I have done in the past (back when scientific calculators were expensive) is just folded up a sheet of 1.5mm thick aluminium to make a case with one open edge that I could slip the calculator into. It had ~2mm of foam on the inside which helped a little, but mostly it was the crush resistance that appealed. So an optional cover that was basically the stock one with a sheet of aluminium inside each face would be nice. If the edges were folded over that would be a bonus.

[pkovak]

Doesn't have to be aluminium if another, lighter material have good characteristics, maybe some plastic. But I absolutely agree that the cover should prevent crushing of the display.
There are more ways how to improve the chances:
1) Screen below the edge - even 1mm below the edge would ensure that flat surface, like 1mm aluminium sheet in the cover, won't damage the sceen. Additionaly, it lowers a chance to crush or scratch the screen if it drops on flat ground.

2) Instead of higher edge, 1-2mm high "nipples" (I am not sure about the word, correct me if it's nonsence) in the corners of the device or around the screen, protection is lower and I think it would look worse, but again, it is a protection against crush attack.

If the device works well with the cover, like the cover of normal paper books, there would be no serious need to take it out for reading and "book-like feeling" would be a plus to number of people. Now if you drop such covered device, there is some chance that the cover will close and protect the screen even if it was open before droping.

Also, I think it would be good idea to keep the cover closed with magnet, but because I never had any electronic reader, I can be wrong, if you know better way, again, correct me.

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pkovak

Doesn't have to be aluminium if another, lighter material have good characteristics, maybe some plastic. But I absolutely agree that the cover should prevent crushing of the display.
There are more ways how to improve the chances:
1) Screen below the edge - even 1mm below the edge would ensure that flat surface, like 1mm aluminium sheet in the cover, won't damage the sceen. Additionaly, it lowers a chance to crush or scratch the screen if it drops on flat ground.

2) Instead of higher edge, 1-2mm high "nipples" (I am not sure about the word, correct me if it's nonsence) in the corners of the device or around the screen, protection is lower and I think it would look worse, but again, it is a protection against crush attack.

If the device works well with the cover, like the cover of normal paper books, there would be no serious need to take it out for reading and "book-like feeling" would be a plus to number of people. Now if you drop such covered device, there is some chance that the cover will close and protect the screen even if it was open before droping.

Also, I think it would be good idea to keep the cover closed with magnet, but because I never had any electronic reader, I can be wrong, if you know better way, again, correct me.

Happy holidays to all:

WOW!! This thread really heated up in a hurry! It is obvious that people have a lot they are wishing for in the future and I am sending every suggestion to the General Manager of Astak and to Jinke (makers of the Hanlin V3). Every word written is being forwarded and will be brought up at CES. I am taking a printed version with me to CES and will personally ask the manufacturers.

Someone asked what is the chance to see some of these suggestions soon and even what is the cost? I have no way of knowing what the costwould be until the suggestion is discussed and adapted and a spec done and costed out. BUT< some of these sugghhestions maybe could happen pretty fast. There are a lot of different suggestions BUT one I will personally champion is a TRUE crush-proof case. The EZ Reader has a damned-decent case that is crush-resistant... but I hear what you are saying.

I also own an old Dell Axim and for that I bought an aluminum case years ago from Rhino-Skin! Let me talk with Jinke and with Rhino-Skin and see if I can reach some level of mutual interest. Yes, we are Distributors of the Jinke product... BUT Jinke has asked us for our expertise in reverse-feedback to them to "AMERICANIZE" their product. In other words, Jinke wants us to play an active role in design, and possibly to the point of having a seperate model for us. Also, there is a possibility that Astak maybe would work with Rhino-Skin to offer a true crush-resistant case as an option.

Should this case be a "carrying case" or a "full-use" case? In other words, do you ladies and gentlemen want to be able to turn-on and read the device while it is closed; or are you willing to open the case to utilize the device?

Robert B

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by Robertb

BUT Jinke has asked us for our expertise in reverse-feedback to them to "AMERICANIZE" their product.

A good short term goal would be to make the EZ Reader's MOBI support better than that provided by the Kindle (which started from exactly the same Java MobiPocket Reader as used by the Hanlin). Areas for improvement include:

a) The EZ Reader only has 3 font sizes, vs 6 on the Kindle and these are about font sizes 3,4,5 from the Kindle. So the smallest EZ Reader font may be a bit big for some readers. I suggest 5 font sizes, like the EZ Reader already has for FB2 ebooks.

b) The Kindle allows either full or left justification. The EZ Reader only has full justification, which can lead to large spaces between words with a large font size. I suggest adding left justification.

c) Both the Kindle and the EZ Reader have a very wide line spacing, which is much too large particularly at large font sizes. Either allow this to be set by the user (like with FB2 now), or reduce the fixed spacing.

d) The Windows version of MobiPocket also has an "always bold" option, which is helpful on EInk screens that favour heavier fonts. I suggest adding an always bold option, or a heavier font.

e) All other MobiPocket Readers support MOBI dictionary lookup. This would be a valuable addition to the EZ Reader. If you want to go the extra mile, add MOBI dictionary lookup to all ebook formats (this may be hard, but it has been done on the iLiad DR1000).

Another feature of the Kindle is support for making screenshots (a copy of the bitmap displayed on the screen). The Kindle does this with a key combination (<alt><shift>G), but a "good enough" approach would be to add it to the base system menu with a 30-second delay (to get back to the screen you want a shot of). For Kindle screenshots that illustrate the 6 Kindle font sizes (compare to the same ebook on your EZ Reader), see Font Sizes.